USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea - Sailors and Marines deployed aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) celebrated the arrival of 2012 with a day of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) festivities, including a "Jingle Bell" 5k fun run on the flight deck, sports in the hangar bay and a special holiday meal, Jan. 1.

USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea - With Dec. 31 closing out 2011 and marking the 48th day of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group’s (ARG) maiden deployment, social media continues to be utilized as a valuable communication tool to keep friends and family members informed of the ARG’s current operations.

USS BATAAN, Gulf of Aden – Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Group (MEU) were relieved of their duties in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) by the Makin Island ARG and the 11th MEU, Jan. 6.

ARABIAN SEA (Jan. 5, 2012) The guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) responds to a distress call from the master of the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Al Molai, who claimed he was being held captive by pirates.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus approved the Port of Anchorage as the location for amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage's (LPD 23) commissioning ceremony, which is tentatively scheduled to take
place in the fall of 2012.

SAN DIEGO – Guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) is scheduled to depart San Diego Jan. 11 for a scheduled six-month, independent deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility.

CRYSTAL CITY, Va. - As Navy leaders and senior industry representatives gather during the 24th annual Surface Navy Association National Symposium in Crystal City, Va., Jan. 10-12, events around the world continue to illustrate the importance of the Surface Force.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - The crew of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) hosted a reception on the ship’s flight deck for senior military and civilian officials from the U.S. United Arab Emirates and other foreign nations, Jan. 10.

JAPAN, Sasebo – January 16th will be a national holiday celebrating the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; however, USS AVENGER Sailors celebrated the holiday on the 13th, together, as a crew.

SASEBO, Japan (Jan. 18, 2012) – USS Essex (LHD 2) hosted a lunch for over 100 personnel assigned to the Japan Regional Maintenance Center detachment Sasebo (JRMC) Jan. 18. The lunch was held to thank the JRMC detachment Sasebo team for their services to Essex for over 11 years of being forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

USS HALSEY, At Sea - USS Halsey (DDG 97) responded to a call of distress from M/V Albrouj, a Yemeni dhow that was en route to Somalia from Yemen, while the U.S. ship was conducting helicopter operations in the Gulf of Aden, Jan. 19.

SAN DIEGO – The Arleigh-Burke Guided Missile Destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) held a job fair for the first time for junior officers (JO) to provide them information about different division officer jobs available on board, Tuesday, Jan. 31.

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